6 June 2014  The most senior United Nations official in Kosovo has today stressed the critical importance of maximum participation of all communities in assembly elections slated for this Sunday.

A statement issued today by the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) noted that the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Farid Zarif, during his recent meetings in Belgrade, Pristina and Mitrovica, has stressed the vital need for all communities throughout Kosovo to participate in the poll.

“Mr. Zarif has underlined that diligent efforts must be sustained to ensure the conditions for a free and fair process, respecting and defending freedom of choice for each and every voter,” said the statement.

Further, he noted that the next Kosovo Assembly will be facing many important challenges, and expressed his hope and expectation that members will be chosen through the broadest participation and a clean and credible vote.

When he briefed the UN Security Council last week, Mr. Zarif recalled that in April 2013, Pristina and Belgrade reached a European Union (EU)-facilitated Agreement of Principles Governing the Normalization of Relations. He welcomed a series of political developments since then, including in the last few months with Serbia’s successful 16 March elections and formation of a new Government on 27 April.

“I take this opportunity to call on all Kosovo residents, particularly members of the Kosovo Serb community, to take part in the forthcoming elections and exercise their democratic franchise,” he said at the time.